Sabine trailed 1-5 in the 1st set, then won seven straight games, and 12 of the next 15, to take the set and the match.

Sabine said: "I never give up. I always fight and go for everything. When I was down my coach told me to just go for my shots and just keep fighting." tourney story

Sabine now leads Karolina 3-0 in career matches. Their previous meeting was earlier this year on a chlorophyll court in the 2nd round of The Championships at Wimbledon, when Sabine defeated Karolina 6-3, 7-5.

Sabine is now 4-5 in WTA singles finals. She has a 23-13 singles match record for the season.

Karolina is now 1-3 in WTA singles finals. She has a 42-25 singles match record this year.

On Sunday at Quebec City, Canada, in the final of the Coupe Banque Nationale,
a 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist, 32 year old #108 (career high: #32) Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia (residence: Sarasota, Florida),
defeated
the 2014 champion at Dubai, 34 year old top seeded #20 (and former #1) Venus Williams from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,
6-4, 6-3 (Mirjana is shown holding the hardware after the match).

Mirjana's prize is $43,000; Venus's prize is $21,400.

It was Mirjana's first WTA title since 1998. The 16 year gap between titles is the longest in WTA history (previous record: 13 years, 1 month, by Kimiko Date-Krumm).

Mirjana said: "I played such a great match today against one of the best players in the world, such a champion... It's been so long... after starting with my new coach Julian Alonso, winning matches and really getting that belief back, I'm just so ready to keep going." WTA story

Venus said: "It's not typical that when you go for every shot they almost all go in. I think I played pretty well, but [Mirjana] just played better than me."

Venus still leads Mirjana 2-1 in career matches. Their previous meeting was last year on red clay in the 2nd round at Florianopolis, when Venus defeated Mirjana 6-3, 6-3.

Mirjana is now 3-1 in WTA singles finals; she was playing in her first final since 1998. She has a 24-21 singles match record for the year.

Venus is now 45-30 in WTA singles finals. She has a 30-13 singles match record this season.

On Saturday in Uzbekistan, in the final of the Tashkent Open,
the 2008 finalist at Antwerp, 27 year old 3rd seeded #71 (career high: #35) Karin Knapp from Lutago, Italy,
won her first WTA singles title by defeating
the 2013 tourney champion (and 2012 Baku champ), 22 year old top seeded #36 (career high: #32) Bojana Jovanovski from Belgrade, Serbia,
6-2, 7-6(4) (Karin is shown holding the hardware—and headware—after the match).

Karin's prize is $43,000; Bojana's prize is $21,400.

Karin said: "I can't say how happy I am right now. I've had five surgeries, so many months of lay-offs in the last six years, in and out of tennis the last two years due to bad knee problems - but I knew it was possible for me to win a WTA event one day, and I'm so happy I could do it here in Tashkent." WTA story

Bojana and Karin had met only once before, earlier this year on red clay in the 1st round at Madrid, when Bojana defeated Karin 6-1, 6-1.

Karin is now 1-1 in WTA singles finals. She has a 23-23 singles match record this year.

Bojana is now 2-2 in WTA singles finals. She has a 20-24 singles match record in 2014.

Venus said: "I definitely expected a really competitive match. I saw Francoise play in Montréal, I was actually rooting for her, she was playing so well and got so close. So I figured she'd come out and really play well. Most of the opponents that I play against come out and play well against me.
"The first set was just one break at the end. And the second set I think I was able to get a little bit more rhythm on her game, because I hadn't played her before. I started to understand what her game was about and really use my experience out there. But I have to say she really played amazing." WTA story

Hong Kong weather has been hot and humid. Daniela said: "I think these were probably the toughest conditions I've ever played in in my career. It was very hot. And I was really struggling with the heat, especially in the second set. It was very, very difficult to be out there... I'm happy I was able to make it through today."

Sabine said: "I wasn't making many mistakes, and that's always what you want. By the end of last night's match [against Monica Niculescu] I think I was playing pretty well, and I think I really took that momentum into today." WTA story

Sabine said: "It was a great semifinal, Not only for the crowd, but us as well, Lots of long, fun rallies and it's always nice to play those kind of matches and come out on top in them. [Francesca is] a great fighter, she gets back a lot of balls, so you have to be patient, run well, not miss too many balls, but still stay aggressive...

"I think I've played pretty well this week and I've improved from match to match, so I'm really looking forward to tomorrow." WTA story

Lesia said: "I love the speed of the courts. I played strong and was fitter today, and I was confident I was physically in better condition to clinch the match in the tie-break. I'm really enjoying my tennis at the moment and I hope to keep going like this."

Bojana said: "Urszula played very well at the beginning. It was tough going for me, but I found my rhythm late in the second set. I played very well and feel stronger after these three set wins." WTA story

Lesia said: "I'm happy with the way I'm stroking the ball. The courts are perfect for my game. I was a bit tired yesterday, but I'm feeling fitter and have enough energy for the rest of the tournament."

Nigina said: "I have been watching Akgul since I was young and always dreamt of playing her at a high level. We are friends and practice together, but had never played a match. I had no pressure and went for my strokes. I never thought I'd reach the semifinals. I feel like I'm dreaming."

Bojana said: "I started well today, and was happy to finish the match in two sets instead of the three I have been playing the whole week. It was good to play in front of so many people. I would like to compliment Nigina for a wonderful week and game. She has improved a lot, and I am sure she will be a very good player." tourney story

*n71 s3 Karin Knapp ITA d n128 q Lesia Tsurenko UKR 6-3, 6-3

Karin serving

Karin said: "The match was very tough, and not as the scores suggest. I made a plan to hit the ball a bit earlier, so as not to give Lesia time to make her strokes, and made her commit mistakes."